The Kansas City Chiefs will head into Week 2 without Josh Simmons, and the timing of his absence is already drawing noise beyond the injury report.
Andy Reid said Friday that the 2025 first-round pick has been ruled out for Sunday night’s game against the Indianapolis Colts as he works through a back injury that has lingered since training camp. Simmons missed two preseason games and also sat out the season opener against the Denver Broncos last week.
Reid didn’t offer a firm return date, only saying the tackle has reached a checkpoint in the recovery process.
"He's at that two-week mark now," Reid said. "So, they'll go back and reevaluate it.
But, I know he's feeling better than what he was. Wasn't good enough to play.
We'll see."
That explanation wasn’t enough for NFL analyst Bobby Burack, who posted a lengthy message on social media questioning whether the issue is really just about Simmons’ back. Burack pointed to what he described as a troubled stretch stretching back to last season, including a claim that Simmons told the team he did not know if he could play during warm-ups against the Jags on MNF, then played anyway before leaving the city the next night before the Lions game.
"This was not approved. The team didn't know where he was for a lengthy period. They didn't inform his teammates of his whereabouts until the following Wednesday."
Burack also said Simmons had previously removed himself from multiple series, including one game against the Eagles for an "eye" issue.
"I do not buy this is just a 'back' issue for Josh Simmons," Burack wrote. "Not for a second.
Notice not a single top insider will confirm or address it. None of them.
Not Schefter, Rapoport, Pelissero, Breer, Palmer, Schultz, etc. They are avoiding it for a reason.
There's far more to this story. If you are Patrick Mahomes, you have to be furious that your front office banked on Josh Simmons at LT, despite all the warnings pre-draft and last year."
Simmons’ rookie season was limited to eight games. In Week 13, he suffered a dislocation and fracture in his wrist and was placed on injured reserve in December.
The Chiefs are also without defensive back Chamarri Conner, who has been ruled out with a knee injury. Mansoor Delane and Chris Jones are listed as questionable.
Kansas City and Indianapolis are set for Sunday, Sept. 20 at 8:20 p.m. ET.
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